Lishi's POV
I'm tired. The coffee has been as effective as using water to clean up oil. I honestly contemplated taking a quick nap at my desk before my morning meeting but decided against it and just headed up to the meeting room to get things over with. Mr Lee was having me sit in on these morning meetings to see how we run through music video ideas from initial thoughts to final production touches.
Its been a lot of work but its fun. The only downside is I have to see Minho's face constantly until we get a replacement manager for SYNC. I didn't think I'd like working so much here. Its been a blast. Minus nearly getting killed but we'll just gloss over that.
But....I haven't been spending much time with anyone lately. Its kinda lonely sometimes. Maybe I should see if anyones free later for lunch or something since I'm working late today but at least I have a good lunch break.
As if on clockwork my phone pinged with a message. I couldn't check it now so I had to wait and sit through the hour long meeting before slipping away for a bathroom break. (L for Lishi, Y for Yun)
Y: hey
Y: you're in a meeting but like im bored and im in your office
Y: you have a bts doll? Hahahhahahhaha
I'm going to murder this guy. The doll was a funny gift from Rae when we were younger. It was a production mistake doll of Jimin's face and it looked so disproportionate and weird that we call it the cursed doll. But its in my drawer, and my drawers are locked. If Yun picked my locks I swear to god I will-
Y: reply to meeeeeeeee
L: what.
Y: whats up
L: im working
Y: hi working im dad.
...dad puns are the bane of my existence but Rae and Yun live for them. I feel like my ears bleed when I hear them.
L: no.
Y: fineeee. Meet me for lunch i want tteokbokki.
L: alright alright is Rae going to join us?
Y: she's busy
L: cool.
Huh wouldn't that be the first time I'd be in Yun's presence without Rae? Damn. Although we usually end up in a debate about something. He does not understand the wonders that is hot chocolate.
After dozing off for a moment in my seat I jumped up at the sound of a door slamming open.
"IM SORRY IM LATE I GOT INTO A MINI CAR ACCIDENT!" I was hit with a wave of colour.
A guy with pastel green hair and contact blue eyes dashed in out of breath and flustered. His button up shirt was missing a few buttons exposing the white vest underneath and I looked away because for a second I saw abs and I did not need to see them. He was a little tall about 5'10 but damn.
"Goodness are you okay?!" Mr Lee exclaimed checking him over for any bruises. He seemed relatively unharmed as he tucked in his short and fixed his messy hair.
"I'm fine, only dented my car and the other driver was at fault so its okay." His explanation brought audible relief to everyone. I wonder who is he. Mr Lee must have noticed my curious look as he cleared his throat.
"Well Alishbah meet Hwang Haneul he's a long term actor and singer in our company. Haneul meet Alishbah shes our new assistant producer and the one who created the idea for your new music video backgrounds." I waved awkwardly as Haneul stretched his arm out for a handshake.
"Ah wait no hand touching right?" Haneul noticed me not taking his hand and gave me an air fist bump which made me laugh. Honestly at least he brings some life into this boring meeting filled day.
"Haneul since you and Alishbah will be working together for the long term I want you guys to get along do for the rest of the day I want you guys to get to know each other and work on the set ideas together." Haneul and I nodded. He gave me a thumbs up and a goofy grin.
"Guess I'm your new work buddy." He has a really strong British accent... London posh accent as well. I've met a few with American accents like mr buttface (read Jaehyun) but its a first to see another British person.
"Likewise." I replied trying to figure out where he was from. Not Scottish or Welsh...definitely English....
After some brain storming together it was finally time for lunch. I stood up and grabbed my bag and was about to leave when Haneul popped up in front of me scaring the heck out of me.
"Hey hey we have to stick together so let's have lunch together." Haneul exclaimed with excitement. I think Ive been introduced to the literal embodiment of the sun.
"Oh right, I was going to have lunch with a friend but join us." I invited him to lunch with Yun and I but Rae said she was busy with the boys when I texted her sigh....oh wait its my birthday soon maybe she's getting me something. Rae is the master of keeping my gifts hidden.
Lost in thought for a while we walked back to my office where Yun was in my chair watching.....a love drama on my laptop? He shut it immediately with a jump when he noticed we walked in.
"What are you watching there Yun?" I grinned almost laughing at his red face.
"Ahem I was watching this for research." Sure Yun that's what we'll go with.
"Hi I'm Hwang Haneul!" Haneul cheerfully stuck his hand out to shake to which Yun looked at him with a look of pure uninterest.
"Its fine to drop the facade she's with us. I havent seen your brother in a while how is he these days?" Um what? Haneul unfazed with his grinning actually went up and ruffled Yun's hair making me even more confused.
What in the hell is going on?
"He's good, he opened up that cafe he always wanted to. You should visit." Haneul replied. Are they just going to have a conversation with me standing here like a background accessory? Yun must've noticed my look and snorted in amusement
"His family works along Rae's. They're the other 'founding' family of the company. Although Haneul here enjoys the big screen rather than the secluded ceo life." Yun explained thoroughly amused that I was bewildered.
How far does that company reach. We have millionaire uncles, nationally famous actors where does it end? Next I'll find out Rae can grow wings.... I took a moment to process it all before opening my mouth to talk when Yun.
"Hey Lishi since you're all part of the big leagues how about we have some bonding time?" I didnt even have a chance to say anything before Haneul excitedly blurted out his idea.
Why do I feel like its just going to get so much worse from here?
20 min later....
I was right it does get worse.
In the 20 minutes it took for us to get to the damn restaurant Haneul was talking about we almost got mugged. Because of Haneul's terrible sense of direction leading us into a shady alleyway I had to have an unnecessary heart attack.
"Look just because YOU are used to this kind of stuff doesn't mean I am. I for one like to not become a human pin cushion for knives." I manged to get out as I waited for my heart to get back to normal. I'll have grey hair in my 20's because of everyone around me....
My words seemed to have fallen on deaf ears but finally Yun took the lead direction wise and we made it to the restaurant.
Oh my god I am so glad we made it to this restaurant. Its a food factory place where I can sample loads of cute pastries. We went into the restaurant side and ordered actual meals before Haneul and I went off to explore the sample side whilst Yun waited with the food at our table.
"This would be the mini pancakd burgers. Two fluffy pancakes with whip cream and fruits sandwiched between." I think I can see Haneul drooling over these as one of the workers introduced the dessert to us.
"We'll take three, we're on table 17." I handed over the payment before Haneul could protest. He had his hand on his wallet ready to pay for them.
"Hey I was gonna pay, but thanks those things look so good." He's like a kid sometimes. Amused by everything with a love for sweet stuff. Sometimes I see him serious like at the meeting but he seems happier like this.
"Hey Yun did you hear anything from Rae?" I asked when we sat back at our table, only for him to shake his head.
"Nope but by her tracker she's still at the cafe, and Sunyoul is watching them secretly as well. I trust the dummy no matter how annoying his family is." Yun replied sipping on his drink.
"Said family member is sitting in front of you." Hanuel huffed pouting in mock annoyance. I laughed at their little exchange once they started bickering between themselves.
They've known each other for a long time I can see that clearly. Rae has a lot of people around her now. Ha hopefully she doesn't forget about me whilst we're here. Ah I'm probably just being paranoid but I cant shake this feeling of uneasiness in the past few days. School is finished in a couple of weeks for my siblings so they're planning on visiting Rae and I all the way here in Seoul. Even Aunt Ina is making the trip out. Maybe I'm just feeling a little homesick.....although they drive me up the wall I can't wait to see some familiar faces.
"Hey Lishi what about you, do you have anyone you're super close to?" Probably Rae is the closest and Yun is pretty cool when he's not the most annoying thing ever. I really should make more friends in Korea, I've been so busy I have had like 0 time to work on myself. Hm I should go somewhere this weekend. Haneul waved his hand in my face making me realise I spaced out without even answering him.
"Hm probably Rae. She's my closest friend." I replied making him go aww.
"How cute! If it wasnt for Yun being friends with Rae I'd have never met her when we were kids. She's like royalty in the family." Haneul continued blabbering about his own past with Yun rolling his eyes consistently throughout the time. Those things are gonna roll into the back of his head and stay there at one point.
"Foods here. Lishi if Haneul ever bothers you give him a smack over the head dont worry I do it all the time." Pffffft I nearly pierced him with a stiletto when we met and now he's giving me advice. How times have changed.
The lunch was pretty good, veggie tteokbokki and a ceasar salad minus the chicken. We were headed back, walking around the back of the food factory to get to the main streets with our pancakes in hand and just chatting about random things when I noticed something was weird. It's a super hot day, and we're in the middle of Gangnam yet there's not a soul on the street we're walking on. Minus the occasional piece of trash.
"Lishi am I going insane or are we alone?" Yun said quietly and a bit muffled as his mouth was stuffed with pancake. I nodded.
Is there some kind of fair or show going on? Usually there's little dance groups doing covers but then we'd hear the music for it. My uneasy feeling sky rocketed once we heard clicking of heels coming closer.
"Shit." Haneul cursed looking around before scaring the hell out of me by running off to break the back door of the food factory with his shoulder.
"In go on." Yun dragged me in faster than I could comprehend but I quickly caught up and soon we were in the storage area of the food factory.
"What is going on?" I got shushed instead of a reply so I figured to keep quiet and they'll tell me once we're out of danger.
Silently walking along I had 10,000 different theories stuck in my head and they all point to kidnapping or assassination and honestly I'm not fond of either endgame. We reached a door that wasn't locked and it seemed to be an office. Thankfully a place we can actually hide in.
"It seems to be safe lets go." Hanuel whispered with none of the happy go lucky demeanour he had previously. He looked sharp and actually kinda dangerous with the steel look he was sporting.
We enter and lock the door behind us sighing and taking a few minutes to breathe.
"I'll message others, Yun you look for a way out okay?" Haneul whipped out his phone and Yun went about seeing if he could break the office window or anything. Me? I was standing there trying not to be a bother whilst they figured things out but I kept hearing an annoying tick sound. Like little tapping feet.
Wait. The guys heads popped up as well as we listened in for the source of the sound. Yun turned towards the air vent and using a chair to balance himself he looked in and immediately screamed like a little kid and fell over taking the loose metal cover of the vent with him. Wow there goes our quiet cover.
But I started screaming too when I saw what was in it.
A snake was resting in the air vent. Opening its eyes to look at us curiously.
"Shit the door isn't opening something blocked the lock." Haneul cursed repeatedly trying to smash down the door.
Yun was frozen staring at the snake with a look of absolute horror. Oh god he's in shock, we're trapped with a potentially deadly snake and I don't think it'll eat a pancake burger. In a desperate attempt I picked up a chair in order to smash the window since we we're on the ground floor falling wasnt an issue. Until the window wouldn't break.
Someone planned this. A snake, an unlockable door and a unbreakable window.
We're trapped.